Western wins Group AA meet

By Robert Sisk

Published: May 31, 2008

HARRISONBURG — The Southern Valley only put a handful of athletes on the podium on Saturday afternoon during the Group AA meet.
Western Albemarle took the boys team championship at the Group AA meet in Harrisonburg on Friday with 54 points, mixing consistent finishes with strong upfront performances.
The Warriors’ Tyler Stutzman took fourth in the mile running in a tight pack with some of Group AA’s best long distance runners.
“After about a lap I thought I had to pick it up or I would get kicked by everybody,” Stutzman said. “I didn’t pick it up as much as I should have.”
Waynesboro took 16th as a team in the boys events, supported by strong finishes by Will Walter (second) and Tim Brown (third) in the triple jump during Friday’s session. Walter and Brown did not place in Saturday’s long jump.
Fighting high winds Rajah Jenkins represented the Southern Valley on the podium with an eighth place finish in the long jump. All marks were down in the long jump because of the wind that blew in the face of the athletes for most of the afternoon.
The evening before, Rajah Jenkins’ cousin, freshman Karissa Jenkins, took second in the triple jump, helping Lee secure a 27th overall finish in the girls’ team competition, but Stuarts Draft led all Southern Valley teams in the Group AA meet with a 22nd finish. Fort Defiance placed 31st.
“That wind was tough,” Jenkins said. “I just couldn’t get a consistent mark and put a good jump together. I was just glad I made it to the finals.”
Most of Draft’s points came from the high jump on Friday with Christina Fenske placing first and Caitlyn Filla tying for sixth.
Southern Valley and Region III shot put juggernaut Katie Cummings did not get the Group AA championship she has sought for the last four years, being edged yet again by Natalie Baird. The Indian senior placed fourth with a 39-foot, 5-inch throw, with Robert E. Lee’s Daquaa Scott taking sixth.
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Cummings said. “I’m satisfied … well, I’m not satisfied, because I think I had a lot more in me, but it’s not that bad.”
Despite not taking the top-spot, Cummings’ impact on the Fort Defiance track team will be felt for years.
“I’d love to have her for another four years,” said Fort coach Dave Stewart. “She has to feel good about graduating and being all-state all four years. Bridgewater is getting a good one.”
Leemen sophomore, Chris Williams, has two more years to chase after another Group AA title, but let the field know he was an up-and-comer on Saturday, placing fourth in the 400-meters. In his heat, Williams rounded the final turn in the lead but hit the swirling wind like a brick wall. He finished with a 50.47 second run.
“I felt that wind hit me in that last 100 and I tried to just drive,” Williams said.
Fort’s Whitney Fulk took tenth in the 1600-meter run, pacing the track in 5:26 and will get another shot next season.